I meant to write and post this last week, but life got in the way. I've tried to drag every possible memory out of the amazing Brixton experiences and hope this will serve as a jog to the memory as others, and also a flavour of what they were like to those who unfortunately couldn't attend...

Prior to Pulp at Brixton, Id never queued for a band any earlier than 2pm. But still we found ourselves outside Brixton Academy at 10:30 in the morning for the first gig. The queue crowd were largely nice folk indeed, with particular highlights being Lex (she who asked the various members if there would be more gigs, as recounted here) and Man In White Suit With Amazing Moustache who was spotted at the Hyde Park gigs.

Due to our early arrival, we got the perfect spot. Jarvis to our right, Russell to our left, and Candida straight ahead. Oh yeah, and that Mark chap too, but you cant have everything :)

The atmosphere was wonderful inside the Academy. This was what Id been waiting for all Summer I felt, and the crowd were duly overly-excited at the visuals. We got the traditional dose of First Time and then

"...we decided to play some different songs. Don't worry, it won't all be obscure B Sides, and you won't hear the song 'Silence', well, you might hear silence, but..."

I think it might have been here that I yelled for Sheffield Sex City knowing that it had been rehearsed for this tour, but hadnt yet been played. Jarvis replied that it was too long and well all have beards by the time its finished which disappointed me somewhat. A shout went up later for the similarly unplayed His n Hers. At this juncture, I cant even remember if it was me who shouted for that too, or not.

Introducing the second song, Jarvis informed us that it was about waiting for your life to start and seeing the clock slowly ticking down. Was it 'Countdown' or 'Aborigine'? Of course it was the former. Jarvis (and band) seemed quite nervous playing it with Jarvis messing up a couple of lyrics. Perhaps this explains his cue-card for the next night (see the Pulp wiki page for the scan). Cracking guitar from Russell, though. I had been worried that either a) they might play the album version or b) it might be Mark taking the funky part, but I was wrong in both cases. Thankfully! No offence to Mark, as he would certainly have been capable, but Russell playing it just made it all seem more nostalgic. Not nostalgic for having heard it live before, but nostalgic for walking around my University town back in the late 90s listening to French bootlegs in which the song was played.

After that, there was more Old Stuff to come. Jarvis explained how theyd often had trouble with playing Lipgloss live and that they needed some help. Thus on came Richard Hawley completed with waistcoat and watch chain. With four guitarists, they did manage Lipgloss. If memory serves however, Russell did play lead, too. For the record, Russell was in his lovely white suit once again. Steves also let his dyed-Glastonbury hair turn back to its more natural grey. He looks none the worse for it either.

O.U. had an enormously long introduction, with Russell playing around with the violin and occasionally playing the riff. It climbed and climbed from here and was, frankly, glorious. Mark played keyboards on this one although, I think, Hawley had left the stage again by this point.

Have You Seen Her Lately was quite an odd choice, but Jarvis added extra sparkle with some particularly enjoyable actions during the "...he can fasten all his clothes...teach your baby how to walk away" bits, which he did over towards our side of the stage, feigning puppets walking, throwing snot around, etc. Lovely. Interestingly, this was another song for which hed written down the words for. However, he was quite some distance away from his notes whilst singing this verse, so hed have been fairly scuppered had he forgotten them!

Sometime around this, Jarvis announced that it was Richard Gere's birthday. He asked what present he should get to which I, of course, yelled out "a hamster!". Jarvis took some time to ponder on where the Gere/hamster rumours came from. Also around this time, Jarvis opened and read from a card  that was thrown at him. It was from a group of people whod followed Pulp from Primavera to Brixton. It had a PS Show us your Underwear.

After this, the set took the normal Something Changed, Disco 2000 and Sorted route, but there was still one highlight. As Jarvis tended to the other sides of the stage a little more during Disco 2000, Mark came out front to give us his pop star moves as my girlfriend likes to refer to them. He seemed to enjoy himself most at this point although sadly he didnt seem to hear the Mark, youre a popstar! shouts either this or the next night.

After Sorted, Hawley came back and Russell departed. Jarvis explained theyd not played the next song before and that, although he had the words in front of him, they were more an aide memoire than a necessity. Especially as his glasses were so steamed up that he couldnt see. He called for a handkerchief but someone (maybe from the band?) offered him a towel. He didnt like this as towels scratch glasses. Then some pants were thrown at him. He likes pants.

Anyway, Wickerman occurredand was beautiful. There were three backing singers (from the Voxettes?). Jarvis was word perfect and did indeed seem to feel every word that he was singing. A sumptuous, beautiful performance.

Hawley remained for a beautiful Bad Cover Version and then Russell returned for Babies. I think it was on this day that I was rewarded with a smile for my Welcome back Russell. Did you know Im a big fan? Live Bed Show was meant to follow, but in deference to the card from before, Jarvis asked if people wanted to hear Underwear. He checked that the band were ready, and then they duly played it.

Russell seemed to have fun with this one. His sunglasses were off by now and he seemed intent on making his cheeks and face as big as possible whilst playing it. Not sure why he chose this style of stage charisma for this song, but it was certainly well worth watching. Similarly his twitchy shoulder movements on Babies and long Pete Townshend style windmill arm onSomething Changed of all things.

Following this was the usual Hardcore/Sunrise/Italia/Common People bit. As Hardcore was starting, Jarvis read quotes from philosophers who had been born on/died on this day. Coupled with the 'End of the Line' strings, it sounded beautiful. During Hardcore Jarvis climbed atop the speaker stacks and then leapt for the overhanging speakers. Perched comically with legs wrapped around it he preceded to repeatedly hump it like a small, angry dog. After this, he came down into the audience for a bit of touching. I enjoyed stroking both his belly and his back. He really is in rather good shape for 48! Also at some point during the gig, he passed wine and beer into the audience. The wine made it down to our side and was really rather fine.

It was probably also during this section that, having earlier kicked a part of his DI box into the audience (that hit the girl next to me - Jarvis came over later to apologise and declare himself to be 'a twat') that Mark made a little guitar noise whilst Jarvis was speaking. Jarvis really laid into him; "If I did that when you were talking, you'd be [so annoyed?]. So fuck off!"

Then band off. Then they came back onsans Russell. Its clear why, given that they were meant to play Party Hard and then Sheffield Sex City, but time was running short, so they did Razzmatazz instead, once Jarvis had called for Russell. It was a beautiful, slowly rising version, with lots of audience participation of handclaps that underpinned the minimalist playing at first. Mis-Shapes finished the whole thing off.

Afterwards, along with the usual setlists passed into the crowd, the roadie appeared with about a dozen more setlists, made as paper airplanes. I didnt realize til the next night that Russell had been making these backstage during his time out bits. Not many thanks here to the lady who grabbed a carefully caught setlist out of my hand, and even less thanks to her gentleman friend who punched me in the ribs in order to get it back. Somehow that didnt deter me, and I still have Russells lovely plane. I did spent a day last week in A&E though, and I still cant sneeze without wincing. Or reverse my car. Swine.

Of further note to Things Learnt This Day is that Russell travels in a caravanette (although he does not drive it). His special chair also travels with him. When he arrived for the gig the next day, he was actually using a cane suggesting further reasons for him not flying and requiring his seat. He still managed to disappear sharpish when some fans ran for him, though. I did feel sorry for him when later during the day he appeared at the stage door, presumably for some fresh air, and was chatting with a friend. The same fans reappeared and he had to run for cover again. It was quite sad, and I did feel sorry for him. Its no way to behave treating him like some sort of animal. When Candida arrived (on foot) I felt a little bad having shouted Hello Candida! at her. She seemed somewhat nervous when acknowledging the crowd who were queuing. We tried the same trick with Mark, but poor Mr. Webber stumbled after acknowledging us. It also looked somewhat like a fan had followed him all the way from the tube station, chatting at him all the while. Poor Mark.

Anyway, the gig happened on the second night. Oh yes indeed it did. Despite Russell having turned up in a white suit, he was actually wearing grey this night. Again, they started with First Time and then an excellent Monday Morning which was the first time Id heard it on this tour.

Another similarly slow Razzmatazz started next, aping the previous nights slow build up.

It was after this that I chucked a birthday card for Jarvis onstage. It contained some Starburst which he seemed to appreciate it, and I think he would have appreciated the fact it was a talking Dalek card, but sadly he said Ill come back to this later although he never did. The main point of the card was to plead for Sheffield: Sex City. But more of that later.

Then Russell departed and Hawley, I think came on for The Trees. Id never rated the song on record much, but the live version was beautiful. Again, the girls from the Voxettes were involved, as they were on the next song, The Fear.

Now, I remember the Fear from seeing it at Birmingham in 1998, and it was the highlight of the show, then. This version was not any weaker, but its a good way to show what an amazing show it was by the fact that it wasnt anywhere near a highlight. Still pretty damn amazing, though.

And then Russell returned. Jarvis stepped over to him with mic in tow and said, Were going to play Lipgloss now, arent we Russell? Yes we are, Jarvis said Russell, leaning into the mic. Are you wearing lipgloss tonight, Russell? Yes I am replied Russell, touching his lips.

I think it was the previous night that Jarvis had given us a big talk about flavoured Lipgloss and the way in which, in full scally accent,  he would ask girls for kisses just to see what it tastes like. And coupled it with full, snogging action. Vulgar and humorous. Perfect Cocker. Next followed Something Changed, Disco 2000 and Sorted. It may have been during Disco that the gentleman next to me unfurled the piece of paper hed been working on in the queue with his friend. Hello to Paul and Rachelle. The paper read Srpski Jeb. Hed been asked to hold it up by an Eastern European friend, and duly did, albeit a little sheepishly. I pointed at it repeatedly. Russell eventually noticed it and unleashed a big, toothy smile and even awarded us with a nod. Normally if Russell is about to smile onstage, he either turns his back or seems to suck his cheeks in to stop his persona from slipping, but he wasnt able to manage it this time. A lovely moment.

And then, some slightly familiar and very atmospheric music. It sounded like Sheffield: Sex City, but I really couldnt be sure. I looked at Jen and she at me, and we knew. It definitely was. Jarvis started off with a breathy pronouncement of the various Sheffield districts and then Candidas (sampled and slightly speeded up voice). The song got more and more intense and breathy and he came down into the audience for the Where are you? Im here bits, getting the audience to join in. To support himself he clasped some of the outstretched hands and there he was with his fingers intertwined with mine doing the call and response Where are you? Im here!s with me. It was, lets be fair, pretty damn magical.

Eventually he retreated back to the stage, and carried on being word perfect throughout the long, long rendition. A new verse even appeared (something to do with the down to the marrowbone listed on his prompt sheet perhaps?) which felt just as filthy and grubby and the rest. And the groans from the T Reg Chevette. Oh yes, they were there too. And how.

Eventually it was over. It was amazing.

Next came Babies. It was great, but how could it top that? Mark left the stage next, leaving Hawley to play on Live Bed Show, but then came more filth on This is Hardcore. Jarvis stretched out between his two monitors furiously humping the air as if doing some sort of deviant sit-ups. Obscene. Perhaps he took it a bit too far this time? No matter.

As is his wont, Russell returned half-way through Sunrise for some furious guitar scraping alongside Messers Webber, Hawley and Abrahams. The quartet stayed in place for Bar Italia (with Hawley supplying some lovely lap steel) and then Common People and it was over.

Except for the encore, that is. It was the new, very different, Party Hard. It started in a very stripped down manner, but eventually rocked up by its third verse or so, with Mark taking largely centre stage throughout. After this, Russell returned for a version of Countdown that, frankly, pissed all over the previous nights. And then Mis-Shapes for which, I think, Jarvis was again quite close to the audience. I believe it was  around this time, Rachelle held up her sign saying Nick, can I have a drumstick please? Jarvis enjoyed this and read it out and Nick laughed and nodded. Before they went off stage, Nick wandered to the front to find Rachelle and hand her both drumsticks. And then they left.

When they came back for the second encore, Nick came back to the front and mouthed Im gonna need them back! with a broad smile. He then did the international mime for Nah, Im only messing before heading to his drumkit with another smile. What a nice chap!

Finally finally, as the setlist says, Wickerman (if time). And there was time. Time for the band to come out again for this second encore. Russell came too, bringing some paper aeroplanes that he attempted to chuck into the crowd, but given that his planes are quite badly made, it didnt really work. Having noticed it was Wickerman next he left the stage and the song started.

But then he came back. He had a look at the band, then a look at the audience. He unpacked his violin and plugged in. Mark, seated, looked up and laughed to himself. Russell began playing. Im not sure if it was coming through the main speakers or not, but it was definitely coming through his amp and, due to our position, we were able to hear him pretty well. What he was playing really fitted the song and was tastefully done. Russell was evidently taking care to get it right as he kept his back to the audience and his face turned to his amp. Mark looked up again, locked eyes with a roadie, and both laughed. I thought this was a little harsh as Pulp all eight of them really put their all into the song.

And then that was it.

For good? Hopefully not. Even if so, with these two gigs, Glastonbury and, to a lesser extent, Hyde Park, its been one hell of a Summer. Thank you, Pulp!